This template allows an example of calling a template, accompanied by one or more parameters, to be displayed without also causing the template to be called.

Up to ten of the template's parameters (numbered or nowiki-keywords) may be displayed as placeholders, while more than over 10 parameters can be displayed using a coded vertical-bar (as in "&#124;..."). A keyword parameter can be used with equals code &#61; or {{=}} or in nowiki-text: "<nowiki>size=10</nowiki>" or all parameters as a string in "<nowiki>" tags; see Examples at bottom. For more details, see this talk page.

Exceptions: If the intended template lists numerous parameters, then perhaps this template should really not be used, and just hardcode the usage with <code><nowiki>, for example: <code><nowiki>{{Anytemplate|arg1=23|size=250px|other parameters...}}</nowiki></code>. If a vertical display, with parameters on their own lines, is desired, this can also be laid out manually in this manner, or more rapidly done with <pre>...</pre>.

If given no additional parameters except 'template name' ({{{1}}}), it presents the same as the similar {{Tl}} macro template -- a blue link nested in curly-braces-- the same as a user would apply the template without parameters, but with a noticeably clearer font and spacing on most modern browsers.

Comparatively, {{Tl}} will not take or display additional parameters, and for minor technical reasons, may be preferred for mere listing and referencing in long pages involving a lot of template expansions.

{{Tlx}} has a named parameter |subst=. Setting this parameter to any non-blank value will place the string "subst:" before the template name, linked to Help:Substitution. This is useful to indicate when a template should be substituted. For example {{Tlx|Welcome|subst=Y}} will display {{subst:Welcome}}. This is similar to the action of the {{tlxs}} template: {{Tlxs|Welcome}} will display {{subst:welcome}}.

Additionally, Tlx will take a named parameter |SISTER= to link interwiki to other sister projects such as one of these examples: |SISTER=M: (Meta), |SISTER=Q: (WikiQuote), |SISTER=S: (WikiSource), etc. allowing documentation or discourse about a template across interwiki boundaries.

Tlx will also take a named parameter |LANG= to link to other language Wikipedias, such as one of these examples: |LANG=de: (German), |LANG=sv: (Swedish), etc. allowing documentation or discourse about a template across language boundaries.

{{Tlx}} is a generalization of {{tl}}, {{tlp}}, etc, with output that is arguably more legible. This depends on the browser, but narrow gaps between characters such as "{'", "|", "}" and links can be hard to read when not monospaced (and hard to click on; for uses like {{!}}, see {{tln}}, which makes the click target bigger).

At the en.wikipedia and Meta sites, X0, X1, X2, ... X9 are sandbox templates for experimentation on involved templates that need be in template space. An auto-cleansing software facility exists that might be used to duplicate the facility on other sister projects.